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Sahara Hotnights

Kiss & Tell
RCA (2004)

Perhaps the name of Sahara Hotnights singer Maria Andersson's boyfriend rings a bell - Howlin' Pelle Alvmquist of the Hives. Or maybe you just know Sahara Hotnights, because you swear you've seen the name somewhere; that would be the press' fault. Sahara Hotnights has been dubbed "the next big thing" by several sources since the garage band explosion. They all … Read more

Head Automatica

Decadence
Warner Bros. (2004)

It was merely a few years ago that I, a young teenage boy, was sitting in my bedroom watching the Howard Stern show on E!. On this particular episode, as on every particular episode, Stern was giving away a pair of saline boobies to whichever lucky girl would humiliate herself the most. I don't remember the particulars, other than that … Read more

Lights Out

Get Out
Youngblood (2005)

When was the last time you were angry? You're on a computer at the moment, so maybe you have a sticky key that really pisses you off. Or maybe your computer speaks to you in a really sarcastic tone, and you...just...can't....take...it...anymore. At any rate, anybody can relate to anger. Hey...you also like music, I bet. Crucial music you say? Well … Read more

Washington Social Club

Catching Looks
Badman (2004)

"Move the flipping* Audi [away from the front of the club]!" shouted one of the members of the Washington Social Club to the audience. They drew quite a crowd -including an Audi - for a headlining show at the Black Cat in Washington DC. I was not intrigued at first impression; I was there to see another local band and … Read more

A Day in Black and White/Black Castle

Split
State of Mind (2004)

Splits are ideally awesome, with two bands combining their sounds for one album. Often times though it ends up that one side has a great band while the other has some weakness that jumped on. While Black Castle doesn't have as much to offer as A Day In Black And White, the two forces combined make a decent split. If … Read more

Joan Of Arc

Joan Of Arc, Dick Cheney, Mark Twain
Polyvinyl (2004)

It's strange to think that Tim Kinsella has been at it for about decade now, using his inexplicable charms and off-key personality with groups like Cap'n Jazz, Make Believe, Owls, Friend/Enemy, and his long-standing Joan Of Arc project to create an impressive and utterly distinctive catalog. The man's certainly prolific, releasing at least one new addition to an extensive body … Read more

Set Your Goals

Set Your Goals
Straight On (2004)

Recently, the scene of hardcore-punk has become a stagnant cesspool of monotony. Out of the thousands of bands playing "hardcore" music, there is only a hand-full that have the audacity to do something different. California's melodic punk/hardcore hybrid Set Your Goals is one of those bands and upstart label Straight On Records (The Warriors, Go it Alone) has taken notice. … Read more

Rilo Kiley

More Adventurous
Brute (2004)

It was kind of shocking when Rilo Kiley decided to leave Saddle Creek in pursuit of their own record label, Brute/Beaute. In the whole history of Saddle Creek Records, no one has just decided to leave the label. Ever. Somebody had to do it sooner or later. There are no contracts, so any band can leave with ease. Rilo Kiley … Read more

Cut The Shit

Marked For Life
Gloom (2004)

By the time you read this, Cut The Shit will have already finished their final west coast shows and be on the way to breaking up. Their final show will no doubt be off the hook, but for those of us who won't be able to attend said event, we are blessed with ten and a half minutes of near … Read more

Funeral For a Friend

Casually Dressed & Deep in Conversation
Ferret (2004)

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The Good Life

Album of the Year
Saddle Creek (2004)

Tim Kasher manages to juggle two well-respected bands without taking a noticeable break. The strident noise of Cursive may sound much harsher than the soft melodies of The Good Life, but most of the songs are on the same subject of unsuccessful relationships. The Good Life makes that disappointing love theme into a year-long affair on their third full-length album, … Read more

Tree Wave

Cabana
Made Up (2004)

The sound is akin to being smothered by some heavenly, heavily pixilated pillow- warm washes of analog static, compressed layers of computerized bleeps, waves of soft, arpeggiated trills, and a beautiful voice emerging from the dense, intoxicating cloud. Tree Wave are a Dallas-based duo that write fantastic, mind-bending songs with nothing more than some antiquated technology (Commodore 64's, Dot Matrix … Read more

Badly Drawn Boy

One Plus One is One
Astralwerks (2004)

Before writing this review I sat down to go through my usual pre-review writing routine which consists of listening to the CD, reading some lyrics, stealing some ideas from Pitchfork, and checking out the bands website. This preliminary process usually doesn't take very long, but tonight I sat in front of this radiating screen in a state of bewilderment. All … Read more

Folsom

Folsom
West Coast Worldwide (2004)

With the way things are going in the music world these days, it should only be a matter of months before Folsom is the most jocked band in hardcore. The Las Vegas natives combine aggressive music similar to Merauder with ridiculous breakdowns and lyrics that provide a multitude of opportunities for sing-alongs. I was fortunate to see this band open … Read more

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